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Breaking academia’s glass ceiling: Rise of women rectors
The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in West Java has officially appointed its first female rector since the first-tier state university was founded almost a century ago, breathing new life into Indonesia’s male-dominated tertiary education sector
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T
he Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in West Java has officially appointed its first female rector since the first-tier state university was founded almost a century ago, breathing new life into Indonesia’s male-dominated tertiary education sector.
Civil engineering professor NR Reini D. Wirahadikusumah was named rector after securing the most votes from ITB’s board of trustees, beating incumbent Kadarsah Suryadi, who had led the campus since 2015, and Jaka Sembiring, kompas.com reported on Friday.
According to the university’s official website, Reini earned her bachelor's degree at ITB and her master's and doctorate at Purdue University in Indiana, the United States.
The website listed her expertise as construction management and engineering, as also shown by her list of publications.
On a video uploaded on ITB's official YouTube channel in October, in which she provided her vision and mission as a rector candidate, Reini said she had served the university for 25 years.
"ITB is an advanced institution in science, technology, arts, humanities and social sciences at the national level.
However, to advance at the international level, we need more fundamental changes," she said in the video.
The 2020 QS World University Rankings by Global university rating institution Quacquarelli Symonds, placed ITB in 331st position among 1,002 tertiary institutions, below the University of Indonesia (UI) at 296th place and Gadjah Mada University (UGM) at 320th.
The rector selection process started with 30 candidates who were later shortlisted to only 10 candidates. The 10 candidates then participated in a debate and delivered their ideas for the school before they were further shortlisted to six potential rectors. A closed meeting at the university's Academic Senate then narrowed the list down to the three aforementioned candidates.
Reini is not only the first female rector since 1959, but also since 1920, when the university was still named Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng.
With her new position, Reiny said she was determined to increase female participation in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM). Her plans also include bringing more female professionals into the fields of information technology and communications.
She revealed that 45 percent of ITB’s students are women who have the potential to make significant contributions to these areas by building on their skills and creativity.
“Those are efficient and relevant forms of technology for the public,” she said in a press conference at the Education and Culture Ministry on Friday as reported by Kompas.
The newly installed rector pointed out that despite their skills and interests, many women felt intimidated to pursue a career in STEAM industries as due to prevalent gender biases, they were largely associated with men.
Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) showed that in 2017, only 30 percent of people working in STEAM industries were women.
Reini joins a growing list of female rectors in the country.
Risa Santoso also made headlines last week for being appointed rector of the Asia Institute of Technology and Business in Malang, East Java. The Harvard University graduate is also the youngest person to be named rector at only 27.
Rina Indiastuti is currently leading Bandung’s state-run Padjadjaran University (Unpad) in West Java for the 2019-2024 period as its first female rector.
The Unpad School of Economics and Business professor, who had served as acting rector since April 16, was officially elected during the university’s latest board of trustees’ plenary session.
Indonesia currently has five active female university rectors and two who have finished their term. In addition to Reini, Rina and Risa, those currently serving are Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu for Hasanuddin University in Makassar, South Sulawesi, and Amany Burhanudin Umar Lubis at Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic State University (UIN Syarif Hidayatullah).
Meanwhile, Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) chairwoman Dwikorita Karnawati previously was the first female rector for UGM in Yogyakarta and Badia Parizade was two-term rector of South Sumatra’s Sriwijaya University.
